Manchester City forward Erling Haaland will make a return to home territory, while Kalvin Phillips will not, as Guardiola accused the ex-Leeds midfielder who returned from the World Cup overweight and will not be considered for selection just yet.
Portuguese centre-back Ruben Dias could also be out for up to a month after sustaining a hamstring injury in A Selecao’s World Cup quarter-final loss to Morocco
Julian Alvarez, Kalvin Phillips and Ruben Dias are all confirmed by Pep Guardiola to be absent although for very different reasons.
After winning the World Cup, Argentine striker Alvarez has been given an extended period of rest which the City boss said will last seven to ten days.
He is also likely to miss the New Year’s Eve meeting with Everton.
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Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake are set to compete for Dias’ spot on the left side of City’s central defensive partnership, both having played in the Carabao Cup win over Liverpool.
Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo were unused substitutes in that match and should be named in the starting line-up while Phil Foden,
Bernardo Silva and Jones Stones push for a return to the XI.
Predicted Manchester City XI:
Ederson;
Walker, Stones, Laporte, Cancelo;
Silva, Rodri, De Bruyne;
Mahrez, Haaland, Foden.
